ROBERT: I’m dizzy with excitement at the prospect of seeing all of you who are supporting KCTS 9, for the 20th anniversary of Red Dwarf. Yeah that’s right, I’m actually gonna be in Seattle on the 24th August… I can’t believe it… and we’re going to have a jolly good time catching up on all the daft stories behind the scenes on Red Dwarf, and all the prospects for more Red Dwarf. Aaaaah, yes, indeed, news just through, but I won’t tell you ’till I’m there.

Bloody hell. And no, I’m not just getting excited about Robert saying call letters again.

What could it be? With all the excitement in the past over the Movie, perhaps it’s wise not to get our hopes up too much… but dammit, it’s Robert saying there’s going to be new Red Dwarf, and frankly I can’t help it. What I will do is point you towards this here article here, and point out that Charles Armitage still mentions “TV Specials” on his site. Or perhaps it really is Movie news – check out our Doug Naylor interview for the latest on that. Speculate away below!

FUCKING FUCK I DON’T GET THAT PBS STATION ANYMORE I USED TO BACK WHEN I HAD CABLE BUT NOW I DON’T I’M ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE STATE SO CLOSE BUT SO FUCKING FAR AWAY FUCK FUCK FUCKING FUCKING SHITTING CUNTING HELLDAMN SHITFUCK MOTHERFUCKING AAAAAAIIIIIIIGGGGHHHHH

…okay, I’m good now. (Hyperbole does a body good. As does swearing.) Maybe it’ll show up on the Youtoobz. And by that I mean it’d better show up on the fucking Youtoobz.

Or else–it seems to me that most PBS stations in the state have pledge drives at around the same time, usually with one going into “We Need Money” mode right after the other, or overlapping with the other. It’s nothing I’d bet on, but maybe, just maybe, I’ll get to see it anyway, if my local PBS station(s) decide they want to air a Red Dwarf marathon or something as part of their next pledge drive.

It’s just a clever way to get everyone parting with the cash on the pledge drive they have. He’s been going since 1994 or before, usually with Craig, and usually excited about something to do with Dwarf. That or Dave will make a Series IX.

Now then, now then, now then (I’ve come all over Jimmy Saville), I know teh AndreWellards no longer resides at GNP Towers but would it kill him to perhaps comment on what Robert said? e.g. you mentioned some news that didn’t quite come out a few months ago, could this perchance perhaps be the very same news that Robert refers to? And if so, should we get excited or not. The thing is…I want to know.

If it is really big news I would suspect that Robert is under contract to keep all mention of a new Series to small quotes, or non at all. Have the rest of the cast said anything? No, Danny is having a cat ass trophy situation.

So we’re just gonna have to wait! At least we know SOMETHING is in the pipeline. That’s good enough for me! Whether it’s a cast audio recording, a stage play, an animation, a 30 minute TV special, a 1 hour TV special, a new Dwarf book (a novel or a 20th anniversary Dwarf story or something), a new DVD, a movie(!) or a series. I’m guessing it’s one of those things. And even if it isn’t, I’d be happy with anything new.

Let’s think about what it could REALISTICALLY be. I’d say nothing that involves BBC TV. They made their stance quite clear, they’ll gladly commission shit like Lab Rats (sorry if you like it, but I don’t) and Hyperdrive because the bosses want to get new successes under their belts, also they don’t want to spend much money.

What I’m expecting is an adaptation of the movie script, whether it be an audio CD release, a stage play of some kind (less likely) or an animated feature that could broadcast on another channel or straight to DVD. Actually, thinking about it, the only feasible one is a radio show/audio CD. That’s because what’s coming will be out before the end of the year to keep in with the 20th anniversary.

That’s it, that’s my prediction – a radio play of the movie script, later to be released on CD.

I keep reading this from the 25 February TOS update about the site relaunch, which there’s a link to in the KCTS Gets Anniversarial news update:

Will there be other exciting developments for the 20th anniversary of Red Dwarf? Let’s just say that this is our anniversary year, and anything is possible – especially as the show attracts its third generation of fans…

and trying to read SOMETHING into it although I don’t know what. Just that last little bit and the ellipsis at the end seem somehow to be hinting at something, or providing a clue.

Robert stars as Kryten in the new show “Toilet Dreams”. He visits every crap hole in the universe, and rates the ablution on the bog scale. His assistant George Micheal, also stars as his groinal attachment supervisor.

My grandmother’s paperboy’s penpal has a hairdresser who is also the Chief Comedy Decision Head of BBC Films International, and I can report definitively that the above link is going to become the Official Movie Site. The plot is that Pete eats Lister and then everybody goes golfing. Also, it’s a musical.

“Channel 5 announces today it has commissioned Androids, a new daytime soap opera airing in 22-minute episodes on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, with an omnibus edition every second Sunday. The show has been created by Grant Naylor Productions, based on a fictional television series appearing in an early episode of popular scifi-sitcom, Red Dwarf.”

I imagine that after a year or so of really snazzy packaging (with little games and quizzes to collect on the back) there’ll be a large, totally plain box with all character variants inside marketed as “Just The Cupcakes”. Might wait for that.

Who am I kidding, I’ll get all the released boxes AND the big one. It’ll probably have a cupcake with a skutter on it which never appeared in the regular boxes.

> A direct follow-up to the end of VIII or a standalone feature set at an unspecified time? Onboard the Dwarf, Starbug, or somewhere else?

I’d take whatever, really. I have no aching desire to see the VIII clifhanger tied up (mainly for the reason that Rimmer kneeing death in the balls is a decent enough, open ending. It’s just that fucking caption muddying the waters.)

> The full cast, including Chloe and Norman/Hattie, or just the four core Dwarfers?

I’d prefer no Chloe as I’ve never responded to the character or the actress, but it’s not very likely she wont be in it. I can imagine them finding a way of putting Hattie AND Norm in, though, which would be nice.

> Would you mind if there weren?t many effects shots? Would you be upset by the inevitability of no model shots and the use of CGI?

I don’t think that CG and no models is inevitable, really. The Model Unit are still there, models should still exist… there’s no reason why a mix of the two couldn’t be used.

> Would you go, or at least try to go to the studio recording(s)? If so, would you scream with laughter even at parts that weren?t funny?

I’d go to every single one and laugh at the bits I find funny. Obviously.

> What channel would you prefer Dwarf to be on? If the special was made for the BBC would you mind if it was on BBC1 instead of the usual BBC2?

I would much prefer BBC2, but really for no other reason than a perhaps misguided sense that it feels Right and Proper to do it like that. In truth, I’d take whatever channel wants to broadcast new Dwarf.

> Would you buy the special on DVD even if it was only one episode with a few extras including possibly cast commentary, deleted scenes, smeg ups?

I often wondered why the audience was so hysterical for VIII but I know if I’d been there I would have been so giddy I would have pissed my sides at anything.

Regarding the setting, it probably would be best to just have them onboard the Dwarf with no VIII resolution. I would love the dots to be joined in comic book form actually. Open with Rimmer kneeing Death in the balls, he runs away, Death pulls back his robe and it’s Ace Rimmer, carry on from there.

The VIII Rimmer ends up sacrificing himself. We find out that ‘our’ Rimmer hasn’t been having any adventures, saving people and general heroic stuff, he’s just been stranded on a planet documenting all the different tree varieties whilst waiting for his ship to self-repair. Something terribly inane anyway. That way he’s just the same character he was when he left in VII. None of that needs to be in the series, of course. It would just bog everything down when it should be fresh and funny.

Oh, yeah, I guess models and the stages will always be more expensive (especially if it’s Chris Veale again – which, after his work on Tikka Extended, I wouldn’t be opposed to), but I was guessing that with old models still around, that might reduce some of the cost. But then, for all I know, TMU don’t even have access to them anymore and the BBC has put them all in a big burning bin along with the department.

I liked the more real feel of 7, and I don’t think that would be a bad way to go. As for laughter, I’m kinda in two minds about this. Before seeing the extended episodes in series 7, I often thought I’d like to see Dwarf without the laugh track. I.e. make it feel like a comedy drama rather than an old fashioned sitcom (not that I dislike those, I just felt it went better with the sci-fi theme, although there isn’t much logic to this.)

However on comparing classic style with the extended episodes in series 7, I have to admit I felt more inclined to laugh if there was a laugh track. Does that mean I’m laughing for the wrong reason? I’m not sure. That’s not to say I dislike the version without the track, it’s just a different animal.

Overall the laugh track seemed beneficial, but I’ll go either way with the new stuff. If it’s a TV film, I think best without. If series, just carry on as normal.

Film effect or no film effect? Shot progressively with HD cameras or interlaced?

It’s sci-fi so the film effect feels better to me (not that I liked the series without it, 3-6 were my favorites in fact. Season 7 does look good though despite it’s short-falls.) . I’m not too bothered though.

A direct follow-up to the end of VIII or a standalone feature set at an unspecified time? Onboard the Dwarf, Starbug, or somewhere else?

If it’s going to the telly I think I’d like a follow up. I’d like the ending of 8 tied up sooner or later. I would certainly be happy with the film story though, but if they took that route I hope they’d round up the series at a later date, or rewrite the film stuff to fit with series continuity (with the latter sapienoid stuff I think it’s doable, just means not doing the reset.)

The full cast, including Chloe and Norman/Hattie, or just the four core Dwarfers?

Chloe’s a member of the team now. Keep her in if she’s willing. As for Norman and Hattie, I think it would be great if they could find a way of including them both.

Would you mind if there weren?t many effects shots? Would you be upset by the inevitability of no model shots and the use of CGI?

Whilst I accept that affects aren’t everything, I would really like to see Dwarf with modern effects. As for CGI or model, a bit of both would be grand, but I really don’t mind that much. Models are best if you can get em, but I’m certainly not anti CGI if it’s done well.

Would you go, or at least try to go to the studio recording(s)?

Probably not, but I guess it depends where it is. I’d kinda like to see it as a finalized package. I was in the audience in an American sitcom once, and although it was an enjoyable experience the funnest part for me was the comedian who kept us entertained. To be fair the show was kinda pants though. And I like Dwarf so it’d probably be different. I think the show itself is more enjoyable as one story though rather than rewatch reshoots etc. (I imagine it can be a blast in it’s own way though, I’m not saying “definitely never!”.)

If so, would you scream with laughter even at parts that weren?t funny?

I’d probably feel more inclined to laugh being surrounded by other people laughing, but I’d try not to scream with laughter just for the sake of it.

What channel would you prefer Dwarf to be on? If the special was made for the BBC would you mind if it was on BBC1 instead of the usual BBC2?

I think BBC2, but I don’t really care that much. New Dwarf is NEW DWARF!

Would you buy the special on DVD even if it was only one episode with a few extras including possibly cast commentary, deleted scenes, smeg ups?

It’s quite easy to dismiss the single-camera style simply because it was used on the least appreciated series of the show. I don’t think there’s anything inherently wrong with it. The lack of a laugh-track for Red Dwarf though, would indicate a lack of jokes.

>Film effect or no film effect? Shot progressively with HD cameras or interlaced?

If they’re going to make the thing (and I’m not convinced they ever will…and am certainly not particularly enthusiastic about it), why not lavish a load of care on it and make it look as good as possible?

>A direct follow-up to the end of VIII or a standalone feature set at an unspecified time? Onboard the Dwarf, Starbug, or somewhere else?

As above, I’m not overly keen on more Red Dwarf. This is a bit of a weird question and neither feels entirely right considering the fact that almost 10 years has passed since Red Dwarf VIII and the cast all look slightly different. I think a lot of people would like some kind of resolution to “Only the Good” though, even if it’s just Doug apologising.

>The full cast, including Chloe and Norman/Hattie, or just the four core Dwarfers?

See previous answer. I guess you’d have to continue with the cast. Wouldn’t stop Norman moaning, mind.

>Would you mind if there weren?t many effects shots?

No, but I’d like some funny bits.

>Would you be upset by the inevitability of no model shots and the use of CGI?

Sadly, it doesn’t look like we’ll ever be in a situation where models will be used extensively for effects stuff ever again. CGI is, in general, better than it was 10 years ago.

>Would you go, or at least try to go to the studio recording(s)?

Probably. Mainly so I could sit there with my arms crossed, a sullen look on my face and be ready to say “See, I told you it would be shit”.

>If so, would you scream with laughter even at parts that weren?t funny?

No.

>What channel would you prefer Dwarf to be on? If the special was made for the BBC would you mind if it was on BBC1 instead of the usual BBC2?

Red Dwarf doesn’t really seem right on BBC1.

>Would you buy the special on DVD even if it was only one episode with a few extras including possibly cast commentary, deleted scenes, smeg ups?

Film effect or no film effect? Shot progressively with HD cameras or interlaced?

No film effect.

A direct follow-up to the end of VIII or a standalone feature set at an unspecified time? Onboard the Dwarf, Starbug, or somewhere else?

Cappsy nailed it on the head about the caption stopping it from being an open ending for me. I’d like a really throwaway explanation like that they always do. Nothing too complicated, though. It would be nice to break off and move away from the current plotline, start over. Dwarf’s good at doing that.

The full cast, including Chloe and Norman/Hattie, or just the four core Dwarfers?

I don’t mind if Kochanski returns as long as she’s given proper lines. Bringing both Norman and Hatie in would be awesome, although we all know for a fact that Norman would want to steal the limelight.

Would you mind if there weren?t many effects shots? Would you be upset by the inevitability of no model shots and the use of CGI?

Obviously model shots would be absolutely gorgeous, and it woulc be really nice to have some new model shots to awe at, money permitting of course. CGI is at that point where they can do a much better job than they could 10 years ago so. As long as we get some return-to-form Dwarf. I’m cool.

Would you go, or at least try to go to the studio recording(s)? If so, would you scream with laughter even at parts that weren?t funny?

Now, that’s a stupid question, I think i would be just happy that I would be given the chance to watch Dwarf as I never knew about the free audience ticket thing, nor did I know enough about TV production, especially Dwarf as I do now to think to get any.

What channel would you prefer Dwarf to be on? If the special was made for the BBC would you mind if it was on BBC1 instead of the usual BBC2?

Well BBC2 would be lovely. Although they just won’t want it. Now that we watch Red Dwarf on channels like Dave and UKTVgold when it was out, I’m now used to watching the episodes with ad breaks, So it wouldn’t jar me as much as it used to.

Would you buy the special on DVD even if it was only one episode with a few extras including possibly cast commentary, deleted scenes, smeg ups?

I think a lot of people would like some kind of resolution to ?Only the Good? though, even if it?s just Doug apologising.

Sorry for wasting all your valuable time. Sorry, bye, bye, sorry.

I’d buy that on DVD. There should be several commentaries (yes, of 10 seconds each):
Director: Ed Bye starting to talk about it but going off on a wild tangent
Cast: Norman Lovett moaning that Doug being on a screen is like him being on a screen
Effects: Mike Tucker pointing out that the Red Dwarf logo behind Doug is made of a discarded radio and eighteen toothpaste caps

A documentary where we find out that Danny and Craig, who don’t even feature in it, manage to turn up late and incur the wrath of Paul Jackson, who isn’t involved with the project.

Deleted Scenes! Doug sitting down apologising. Doug apologising in a silly accent. A special Xtended edit where Doug says “Welcome to Red Dwarf IX” at the beginning.

I’ve over thought this. (And I only say the above because I love the DVDs so much)

> Probably. Mainly so I could sit there with my arms crossed, a sullen look on my face and be ready to say ?See, I told you it would be shit?.

It’s a good job not everyone has that attitude! I would certainly hope for the opposite to happen – to be surprised at how good it was.

Regarding the models/CG situation, I firmly believe the CG in VIII and Re-plastered gets an unfair rap time and time again. Yes, the VII CG was the equivalent of…something that’s not very appealing, which resulted in IMO one of the biggest crying shame-type moments in all of Dwarf – the dodgy shot of all the Rimmer capsules in Stoke. But other than that, dancing Blue Midget aside, I’ve never thought any use of CG in Dwarf was BAD. Beautiful and brilliant model shots shot on film would certainly be preferred, but if that can’t happen CG is perfectly good.

Film effect or no film effect? Shot progressively with HD cameras or interlaced?

Prefer the film effect but HD is irrelevant to me.

A direct follow-up to the end of VIII or a standalone feature set at an unspecified time? Onboard the Dwarf, Starbug, or somewhere else?

Some form of closure would be nice as a TV series though standalone would be more a expected of a movie.

The full cast, including Chloe and Norman/Hattie, or just the four core Dwarfers?

Whatever’s necessary for the story to be told, really. That series IX trailer shows a way to have both versions of Holly but I found the return of Rimmer (not to mention the increase in characters) in series VIII limited Cat/Kochanski’s roles.

Back in the Red as a feature worked alot better than three seperate episodes AND Cat and Kochanski got expanded roles. But it would have been nice if Cat, y’know, took exception to not only being reduced to one suit but having to wear the same as everybody else…

Would you mind if there weren?t many effects shots? Would you be upset by the inevitability of no model shots and the use of CGI?

Well I was introduced to the show on Series VII so I wouldn’t mind. I’d rather not notice.

Would you go, or at least try to go to the studio recording(s)? If so, would you scream with laughter even at parts that weren?t funny?

Not likely, and I don’t scream with laughter even when something is funny. ;)

What channel would you prefer Dwarf to be on? If the special was made for the BBC would you mind if it was on BBC1 instead of the usual BBC2?

No preference. Though if it was BBC One it would be interesting to know the motive behind it since They’re no longer interested in the audience Red Dwarf used to attract.

Would you buy the special on DVD even if it was only one episode with a few extras including possibly cast commentary, deleted scenes, smeg ups?

Yes, indeedy. Those extras are usually the maximum most DVDs have anyway.

—-

While I remember, what role did the winner of the Smeggin’ Great competition actually get in series VII? Background character when Lister returns from Mimas?

Is that the Smeg Outs Video competition winner? Coz I know her cousin and she said she was at the sequence with Kryten and Lister in the A.R. machine in ‘Stoke me a clipper’… the ‘lister of smeg’ thing.

Oh and If Its new Red Dwarf…. Traditional sitcom, laughter (not canned), not bothered on film effect (they did It on the first series of My Family, and abandoned It, AND removed It for the DVD release)… Just make It bloody funny!

> not bothered on film effect (they did It on the first series of My Family, and abandoned It, AND removed It for the DVD release

I like how you capitalize ‘It’ like in the Stephen King book when they talk about ‘It’. Is the film effect seriously as bad as a demonic spirit who eats worlds and children? As for the My Family thing, I don’t remember that at all. Just shows how many series’ it’s been going for now. And they removed it for the DVD release?? That’s something I’ve never heard being done before. Though I’m sure someone here will know otherwise.

As for new Dwarf, if it was the crew with their cocks out (Chloe with baps and vag) for 29 minutes I’d still watch it, as would all of you. I’d probably still watch it if it was Craig Charles screaming ‘I – drink – your – milkshake! I DRINK IT UP!! *SLUUUUUUUURP*’

Had you asked me a couple of years ago I would’ve told you how pivotal the audience is, but after watching the Xtended version of Tikka To Ride, I don’t think it is. Alright, the actors pause to allow for the eventual addition of the laughter, but there’s something to be said for just how polished the show seems without a laugh track.

The thing is, shot single camera, no audience (regardless of whether you add a laugh track later) with film effect makes it a completely different show. It’s no longer a sitcom if you do that. Not that Dwarf couldn’t be great in that form. After all, the books are basically that if you think about it.

I now think that they didn’t go far enough with VII, that they should have planned for no laughter from word go and that Doug shouldn’t have thought he needed to shoehorn so many gag lines in. It should have been like the books onscreen. Of course it’s very easy to say that now, and yes the plan obviously WAS to go more filmic with, er, the film, so I suppose it was natural not to give the audience TOO much of a shock with VII.

Out of curiosity, what was everyone’s initial reaction to Tikka’s style? I didn’t know Dwarf inside out at that time, a few episodes I hadn’t seen (I didn’t see Confidence & Paranoia until the DVD!) but I was obviously enough of a fan to care about what the show was like. I admit I was sort of excited and not really critical of the episode at all until later. I didn’t have a clue things were gonna be different. At that time there was no way I even knew about stuff like Rob leaving or Chris only doing the first couple. Then I remember it became MAJOR discussion at school. Ah those were the days…lunchtimes talking about X-Files, Dwarf, Robot Wars (three people I knew from school went on, they actually worked on the robot partly in the tech room, anyway they got their asses handed to them in the first round, a couple of knocks and the fucking thing just spun in a circle, they got to meet Craig Charles and that bird though) What the hell am I blabbering on about?? You can tell I’ve had a couple of glasses (4) of wine (red).

I liked the change in style with Tikka. I liked the 360 degree sets where you really could be on a ship (not that the old version was bad.)

As for the story, (yeah, off topic, but never mind. Sure no-one cares that much.) I admit I’d have liked a bit more thought explaining the differences in time-drive functionality (I’ve got a couple of theories I won’t bother with here, but even so…) and I think they should have dropped the whole stuff concerning the 200 per cent increase in size of the cargo hold. (Sure you got a whole episode out of that fact later with them crawling around tunnels and stuff, but… well. It wasn’t the best, although there were some great gags. Maybe they could have used those elsewhere…)

You got to see a great set with the big propeller thing (no doubt someone is considering shooting me for describing it as a ‘propeller thing’), but it wasn’t really needed and felt a bit like it was shoehorned in just to show it…
(Whatever a shoe horn is. One of those phrases, I know what it means, but not sure of the imagery..) wonderful though it was. I.e. at the end of the extended edition we see a whole other cargo section which worked well with the revamped ship, shame they couldn’t have just stuck with that. I.e I’ve got no problem with the revamp, just the degree (if that makes sense.)

As for the main story, with the time traveling and JFK, I liked it a lot. The discrepancies concerning the nature of time travel didn’t bother me at all -that’s all part of the humor for me. Great Dallas reinvention (I actually thought they’d filmed it in the US for some reason). And of course the sick sick jokes which makes me chuckle even now. All in all one of the best episodes of series 7 I thought, although it seems much maligned by some die hard Dwarfers.

>I now think that they didn?t go far enough with VII, that they should have planned for no laughter from word go and that Doug shouldn?t have thought he needed to shoehorn so many gag lines in.

What? As in, the same amount of gags that were shoehorned in prior to VII? The absence of a laugh-track should not be an excuse to not make it funneh. The gag ratio is no different in Series VII, it’s just that the gags are weaker.

Tikka to Ride was awkward to watch as I knew I was *supposed* to love it. The style took some getting used to, but it wasn’t the reason I didn’t love it. I thought/think it’s a reasonable episode and, despite a few ropey bits, Stoke isn’t too bad either. With Ouroborus, the series goes on a downward spiral though and it’s nothing to do with the fact it’s (mostly) Rimmer-less.

> Tikka to Ride was awkward to watch as I knew I was *supposed* to love it. The style took some getting used to, but it wasn?t the reason I didn?t love it. I thought/think it?s a reasonable episode and, despite a few ropey bits, Stoke isn?t too bad either. With Ouroborus, the series goes on a downward spiral though and it?s nothing to do with the fact it?s (mostly) Rimmer-less.

It’s nothing to do with that????

I would certainly say that it isn’t just to do with that as it’s more about some poor writing and performances but losing one of the main characters and best actors didn’t help.

Any new Dwarf I would probably put in front of an audience because that’s where the actors work best.

I’m not saying that the lack of Chris didn’t hurt the show, but if Doug had been firing on all cylinders we’d have noticed his absence a lot less. If Red Dwarf VIII proved anything, it’s that the show can be just as crap (if not moreso) when Chris Barrie is in it.

I would watch new Red Dwarf no matter how good or bad it was. It’s just the price of being a fan, really. I can’t even say Dwarf is my favourite sitcom – purely on a comedy level – in the face of things like Arrested Development. But the devotion is there. It’s “my” show.

I would like new Red Dwarf if it was funny and well-plotted, irrespective of whether or not it had an audience, or a film effect, or anything else.

But I would probably prefer small-scale (but well-constructed, high production-value) sets, and a studio audience. If it was lit as well as series VII is, then I’d be happy to take a film effect as part and parcel of that. I adore the look of series VII, but it suffers from the fact that the performers had no audience to spark off. So throw an audience into the general feel of VII, and you’ve probably got my ideal setup.

> What? As in, the same amount of gags that were shoehorned in prior to VII? The absence of a laugh-track should not be an excuse to not make it funneh. The gag ratio is no different in Series VII, it?s just that the gags are weaker.

There are what could be perceived as weak gags throughout I-VI which turn out great due to the cast performances and setup. Loads of gags just doesn’t suit VII’s style. That’s why a lot of them fall flat. The lines seem too unnatural due to the more ‘realistic’ setup, just like it would be a bad idea to have gag after gag in a film.

I think what’s being referred to is that many people, Craig on the DVD for example, consider Series VII to be more of a comedy drama than a sitcom. In that context therefore, cramming jokes into the series jarred more than it did in any of the previous series.

It’s a shame we probably won’t hear anything about Robert’s Q&A, which he does in a couple of hours or so (did anyone else notice they’re calling it ‘Krytie Nite’?), or indeed tomorrow’s autograph session (it says ‘Hear what’s new with the series, cast and crew, get Robert’s autograph and have your picture taken with him.’ what’s new with the series… clutches – at – straws)

I’m guessing TOS will mention it on Friday. It’s pretty cool of Robert to go all the way out there.

Probably because we’re all thoroughly bored with GNP saying “we want to tell you what’s going on but we can’t”. This has been said for over six months now, and it’s getting rather dull to tell the truth.

I realise that it’s for legal reasons, but considering GNP’s stunning inability to do any new Dwarf for the last ten years, it would have been more sensible to keep quiet until they actually had some solid news for a change, rather than sitting about once again saying, “News Soon! News really will be coming soon! News really really soon now! Oh. It fell through.”

Sometimes telling the fans everything is not for the best, particularly in a franchise such as Red Dwarf when we have seen promises made and broken so many times. I realise that they want to keep the momentum of the franchise moving, but currently they’re just making themselves look like a disorganised laughing stock.

Andrew, you may think that what I’ve put is some sort of joke, but sometimes telling the fans less is better for them. Better for their morale.

It’s all very well playing the Red Dwarf sob story every now and then, and I wish GNP hadn’t had so much trouble, but sometimes it gets a little wearing. Lets face it, as it is on the website over the last six months it seems like a rather hollow promise that “something is going to happen. Honest! Trust us this time, pleeeeeease”.

Considering what Robert said last night, it might not be, but if the mention a couple of weeks ago had been the first, people would be a lot more excited now, and a lot less bored of the whole waiting game.

I’m not saying we’ve suffered anything like people in GNP, but on the other hand GNP is making us suffer by it’s poor style of PR.

Probably because we?re all thoroughly bored with GNP saying ?we want to tell you what?s going on but we can?t?. This has been said for over six months now, and it?s getting rather dull to tell the truth.

I realise that it?s for legal reasons, but considering GNP?s stunning inability to do any new Dwarf for the last ten years, it would have been more sensible to keep quiet until they actually had some solid news for a change, rather than sitting about once again saying, ?News Soon! News really will be coming soon! News really really soon now! Oh. It fell through.?

I rather enjoyed the little hints. Got me all anticipated like, and look at the pay-off!

True, it’s easy to say that in hindsight, but it seemed pretty clear from the start something positive was coming. If it’d been and animation or another book, I’d have been fairly happy… and look what we actually did get.

(Post meant in a positive tone… just in case people think I’m being sarcastic. In short: I’m happy! I’m tempted to shout WOOHOO! but that’s become a bit cliche. Or how one philosophical caveman once said: “YABADABADOO!” Ok, maybe not… I’ll just smile.)

Well, I was actually at the event in Seattle. Robert Llewellyn got permission very shortly before the event to reveal that a one hour tv special is in the works, filming scheduled to begin this November. There’s more details about this posted in the Wikipedia entry for Red Dwarf. We’ll be getting videos of the event, so when I get mine, I’ll post the excerpt of Robert announcing the new special, if no one else has by that point.

> Film effect or no film effect? Shot progressively with HD cameras or interlaced?
No film effect, same as above.

> A direct follow-up to the end of VIII or a standalone feature set at an unspecified time?
It would be nice to have Only The Good acknowledged even if it is in a really off hand manner, like the Backwards opening crawl, which sounds like a rude swimming stroke.

> Onboard the Dwarf, Starbug, or somewhere else?
I love Starbug, especially how real it feels in Series VI, but I think if there were only one more episode then I would have to say all aboard the Dwarf.

> The full cast, including Chloe and Norman/Hattie, or just the four core Dwarfers?
The full cast. Chloe’s done her time and deserves to be included. Since it would be harder for the role to be diminished any further than Series VIII*, Norm and Hattie together somehow would be nice.

(* even that chunk from Psirens to Epideme does Holly prouder than Krytie TV)

> Would you mind if there weren?t many effects shots? Would you be upset by the inevitability of no model shots and the use of CGI?
I prefer models but CGI wouldn’t be a deal breaker for me.

> Would you go, or at least try to go to the studio recording(s)? If so, would you scream with laughter even at parts that weren?t funny?
I would love to, but I wouldn’t laugh unless my ribs were genuinely tickled.

> What channel would you prefer Dwarf to be on? If the special was made for the BBC would you mind if it was on BBC1 instead of the usual BBC2?
BBC2 would again feel right, but I’d follow them to hell and back.

> Would you buy the special on DVD even if it was only one episode with a few extras including possibly cast commentary, deleted scenes, smeg ups?
I’d buy the DVD with no extras, then complain it had no extras. Obviously I’d prefer something laden with extras, even a disk of the mobisodes would interest me.

Uh oh. I’m in trouble. I did have written permission to announce the fothcoming 1 hour special of red dwarf, but aince then I have been asked to keepmy big gob shut. I imagine as always the broadcaster had no notion of how fast the news would spread on the intermesh. They are going to announce officially mid September. I am presently at DragonCon in Atlanta which is insanely massive. 3 huge hotels and 30,000 people. More soon